What Causes Insomnia? (And How Zero Gravity Chairs May Help)
When it comes to sleep deprivation, knowing what causes insomnia is crucial to helping you overcome it. With as many as 1 in 4 adults in the United States reporting experiencing insomnia each year, you’re certainly not alone. Insomnia is more than just being sleep deprived, however, and can negatively affect your physical and mental health, lead to an increased risk of accidents, or increase the chance for a number of other risks.
Today we’re taking a look at what causes insomnia as well as how zero gravity chairs may help get you back on track and healthy.
Acute Insomnia vs Chronic Insomnia
Before jumping into what causes insomnia, it’s important to note that not all types of insomnia are the same. Short-term insomnia, or acute insomnia, can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and is the most common type of insomnia people experience. It’s also frequently called “adjustment insomnia” as it’s most often a reaction to a stressful experience or adjusting to a new situation.
Chronic insomnia is labeled as such when you experience at least three or more nights of sleeplessness each week for a period of a month or more. This type of insomnia is more frequently rooted in underlying health conditions.
We’ll be looking at a few ways zero gravity chairs may help with both acute and chronic insomnia, but it’s important that if you have trouble shaking this sleep deprivation you consult your medical professional for advice.
What Causes Insomnia in Different People?
As we mentioned, there are different reasons for insomnia in different individuals. For example, someone experiencing acute insomnia may be able to pinpoint specific stressors while another with chronic insomnia may not be aware of a health condition as the source of their issues. Regardless of what causes insomnia, sleep deprivation can worsen other health conditions and lead to a negative combination feeding off one another.
A few possibilities for what causes insomnia include:
- Having excess stress or anxiety
- Not being able to stick to a sleep schedule
- Napping too late in the day
- Unhealthy diet choices
- Underlying mental health conditions
- Physical pain or sleep disorders
Stress Induced Insomnia
The first item we’re looking at for what causes insomnia is stress. We all experience stress in our lives and it’s impossible to escape. Learning how to manage stress levels and reduce anxiety is critical for treating insomnia.
Anything can be a source of stress. Depending on the individual this may be stress at work, personal relationships, school, or any number of other catalysts. So then how can one manage stress levels and fight this number one reason for insomnia?
One easy method to try is meditation. Meditation has been shown to help lower stress levels, elevate your mood, and even help with pain relief. If you’re using a zero gravity chair to treat insomnia, you’ve got a setup that may help immensely. Zero gravity meditation to reduce stress combines the health benefits of zero gravity chairs and the stress-relieving benefits of meditation. As many types of meditation exist, try as many as you need to see what works best for you.
Have a Sleep Schedule for Insomnia Treatment
Next up while looking at reasons for insomnia is sleep schedule. For most people with healthy sleep cycles, their body follows what’s known as a circadian rhythm. This circadian rhythm follows the pattern of night and day for sleeping and waking.
Some people find it very difficult to maintain a sleep schedule, however, making it a common cause of insomnia. When you wake up too late in the day or stay up too late in the evening it can throw off your entire sleep/wake cycle and negatively impact your sleep quality or ability to sleep at all.
To combat this, try waking up and going to bed each day around the same time. For the morning, that’s as easy as setting your alarm. Try not to hit the snooze button as fragmented sleep just before getting up for the day can leave you feeling sleepy during the day.
For evenings, having a relaxing night time routine may help you unwind before bed and sleep more easily. You can make this routine anything you like! Try taking a warm shower then relaxing in a zero gravity chair to calm your mind and body. You may opt to play brain games to unwind, journal to get your thoughts out of your mind and on to paper, or listen to calming music options to ease daily stress. Try turning off screens at least an hour (ideally 90 minutes) before you go to bed, however, as blue light exposure can also negatively affect your circadian rhythm and be part of what causes insomnia.
Napping Too Late in the Day Causing Insomnia
While taking adult naps can be great (check out the health benefits of napping), sleeping too late into the day is a common reason for sleep deprivation at night. To combat this issue, try taking a short nap earlier in the day around the noon hour. You don’t want most naps to be more than 10 to 20 minutes for optimal benefits. Longer naps may have adverse effects and leave you more sleepy than you began.
So how might zero gravity chairs help with napping during the day? While they provide comfort and can help you heal while you sleep, luxury zero gravity chairs with smart wakeup programs also gently awaken you from your nap. This gentle awakening helps you come around at an easier pace while also stopping you from accidentally sleeping too long.
Foods That Cause Insomnia
While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of what causes insomnia, your diet can play a role. Some foods that cause insomnia issues include:
- Sugar, flour, and other refined carbohydrates
- Potatoes and other starchy foods
- Cured, smoked, and aged meats
- Aged or fermented cheeses
In addition to foods that cause insomnia, caffeine and alcohol can also cause sleep issues. Caffeine is a common stimulant found in coffee, some teas, and soft drinks that can stay in your body for hours. This means having caffeine too late in the day may make it more difficult for you to sleep at night. While alcohol may make you feel sleepy, it can also cause fragmented or non-restful sleep. This leaves you waking up feeling just as tired (or moreso) than when you went to bed.
You can easily accommodate for all of these common reasons for insomnia with small lifestyle adjustments and moderation. Additionally, you may find zero gravity chairs beneficial here, as well, as they may help improve digestion and make it easier for you to sleep at night.
Insomnia and Mental Health
Some of what causes insomnia is not reactionary stress or the foods you eat, but possible underlying mental health conditions. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder have been associated as common causes of chronic insomnia.
So how could a zero gravity chair help with anxiety or depression? Using a zero gravity chair to relax, recharge, and alleviate stress may help elevate your mood and fight off anxiety. Regardless of how a zero gravity chair may improve mental health, however, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.
Insomnia Caused By Pain or Sleep Disorders
Last up in our exploration of what causes insomnia is physical pain and sleep disorders. Pain can be a source of stress and anxiety leading to insomnia issues. A sleep disorder itself, insomnia may also be linked to other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.
As a useful tool for back pain relief as well as other physical health benefits such as being a home remedy for swelling, treating inflammation by improving blood circulation, and treating sciatica symptoms, zero gravity chairs come into great use here for treating insomnia. You may also experience sleeping in a zero gravity chair improves sleep quality as it helps keep airways cleared to avoid sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.
As you can see, there are lots of potential reasons for insomnia. Learning what causes insomnia is crucial for deciding how to treat it. Choosing a zero gravity chair may help improve insomnia symptoms by benefiting both your mental and physical health. Try one out and see how it improves your sleep quality at night, leaving you ready to take on the day each morning!
Zero gravity chairs may help improve sleep quality in a variety of other ways, too. Check out these resources:
